Hinged ceiling telephone booths



Feb. 22, 1966 P. H. SHERRON 3,236,013

HINGED CEILING TELEPHONE BOOTHS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTOR.

PERCIVAL H. SHERRON FIG. 8.

M M 'M ATTORNEYS Feb. 22, 1966 P. H. SHERRON 3,235,013

HINGED CEILING TELEPHONE BOOTHS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 2 EZERCIVAL H. SHERRON M M +24,

ATTOR NEYS Feb. 22, 1966 P. H. SHERRON 3,236,013

HINGED CEILING TELEPHONE BOOTHS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 5 0 FIG. 6.

INVENTOR. F E RCIVAL H. SHERRON MIM'I'M ATTORNEYS Feb. 22, 1966 P. H.SHERRON HINGED CEILING TELEPHONE BOOTHS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 4.

FIG.

FIG. l0.

INVENTOR.

PERCIVAL H. SHERRON ATTORNEYS Feb. 22, 1966 p. H. SHERRON 3,

HINGED CEILING TELEPHONE BOOTHS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENIOR.

IERCIVAL H. SHERRON a *M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,236,013 HINGEDCEILING TELEPHONE BOOTI-IS Percival H. Sherron, Jamaica, N.Y. Sheri-onMetallic Corp., 1201 Flushing Ave., Brooklyn 37, NCY.) Originalapplication Dec. 2, I957, Ser. No. 699,983 pow Patent No. 3,046,615,dated July 31, 1962. Divided and this application May 29, 1962, er. No.198,516

6 Claims. ((Il. 52-205) This is a division of my copending applicationSerial No. 699,983, filed December 2, 1957, now Patent No. 3,046,615.

This invention relates to hinged ceiling telephone booths and, moreparticularly, to the stall type telephone booth having a ceilingstructure providing a chamber for the reception of electrical andtelephone wiring and electrical apparatus such as booth illuminatinglamps, fans, etc. and provided with a hinged lower ceiling panel wherebyaccess may be obtained to the interior of the ceiling chamber and theapparatus contained therein for installation and maintenance thereof bydownward hinging of the hinged ceiling panel.

Broadly, this structure has been disclosed in my copending patentapplication Serial No. 307,630, filed September 3, 1952, noW Patent No.2,912,073.

Heretofore hinged panels in telephone booth ceiling structures have beensecured in closed position by means of screws, latches and the like. Itis possible for such means to be improperly fastened by a worker and forsuch means to work loose under conditions of vibration whereupon thehinged or downwardly movable portion of the ceiling panel may fall,strike and injure an occupant of the booth.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide means preventingaccidental dropping of the downwardly displaceable or hinged panelportion of a booth ceiling.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means urging ahinged ceiling panel portion to a closed position when the panel isclosed and resisting closure of the panel when the panel is in an openposition.

It is a further object of the invention to provide safety latch meansproviding for latching the hinged panel in a closed position andadditionally providing an emergency stop in the event the panel shouldopen accidentally as a result of the first mentioned latch means havingbeen improperly latched.

It is a further object of the invention to provide structureaccommodating the foregoing objects which, when associated with atelephone booth ceiling, will be mounted completely above the lowerceiling panel and will thus be completely invisible from the interior ofthe telephone booth.

These and other objects of the invention relating particularly toelements of structure thereof will become evident from the followingdescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of an outdoor telephonebooth provided with a ceiling structure having a hinged lower ceilingpanel;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the ceiling structureof the booth shown in FIGURE 1 with the top portion of the boothremoved;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view looking down on top of FIGURE 2;

ice

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken on the same plane as that shown inFIGURE 2 but showing the hinged panel portion of the booth ceiling in apartially open position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through the booth shown inFIGURE 1 showing an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the portion of the structure shown in FIGURE5;

FIGURE 7 is a showing of the same portion of the structure shown inFIGURE 5 but showing the hinged ceiling panel in a partially openposition;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical section through the booth shown inFIGURE 1 on the same plane as that shown in FIGURE 2 but showing stillanother embodiment of the invention and showing the hinged ceiling panelin a partially open position;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical section through a modified ceilingconstruction showing another form of the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view looking down on the structure shown in FIGURE9;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of the structure shown inFIGURE 10 drawn partly in section;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged showing of a hinged ceiling panel having latchmeans mounted thereon;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of the hinged ceiling panelshown in FIGURE 12 showing the latch means thereon and showing afragmentary portion of an adjacent stationary ceiling panel; and

FIGURE 14 is a sectional showing of the elements shown in FIGURE 13 in asafety latch operative position.

In FIGURE 1 there is indicated generally at 10 a complefe telephonebooth structure. This structure includes a base 12 on which there aremounted four corner posts 14. Side panels 16 and rear panels 18 aremounted between the corner posts and a door assembly 20 is mountedbetween the front corner posts.

In a rear corner of the booth there is shown a telephone mounting panel22 which is supported by a conduit 24 extending upwardly into the boothceiling structure 26. The conduit 24 serves not only to mount thetelephone panel 22 but also to carry telephone wiring between atelephone mounted on the panel 22 and the ceiling chamber of thetelephone booth.

Above the side panels and above the doors of the telephone booth arelintel panels 28 which may, if desired, bear the word TELEPHONE. Thisbooth structure may provide for illumination of these lintel panels fromilluminating means inside the telephone booth ceiling structure.Structure such as this is disclosed in my copending patent applicationSerial No. 395,447 filed December 1, 1953, now Patent No. 2,881,306.

A roof structure 30 is positioned on top of the telephone booth and isemployed when the booth is provided for outdoor installation. If thebooth is provided for enclosed or indoor installation, a simple closurepanel may be provided as will be hereinafter described if the roofstructure is not employed.

In FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 there is shown a ceiling structure including fourvertically extending sides 32 supported by means of angles 34 from thecorner posts and from the sides of the booth. The bottom of the ceilingstructure is formed by two horizontally extending panels 36 and 38 fixedto the lower edges of panels 32 and an angle frame 40 supporting a glasspanel 42 between the stationary panels 36 and 38. The angle frame 40 ishinged to the stationary panel 38 by means of a piano hinge 44.

The hinged panel assembly 40, 42 is maintained in a closed position asshown in FIGURES 2 and 3 by means of a pair of springs 46. Each of thesprings 46 acts between an abutment 48 and a block 50. The abutments 48are each mounted on the stationary panel 36 and the blocks 50 are eachsecured by means of a set screw 52 on a rod 54 extending through itsassociated spring 46. One end of each of the rods passes through itsblock 48 and the other end of each of the rods is pivoted to one end ofeach of a pair of links 58 and 60 as indicated at 56. The other end ofthe link 58 is pivotally connected to an angle bracket 62 mounted on theangle frame 40 and the other end of the link 60 is pivotally connectedto an angle bracket 64 mounted on the stationary panel 38.

It will be evident upon viewing FIGURES 2-4 that the blocks 50 may beadjustably positioned on the rods 54 and secured thereto by means of theset screws 52 in order to provide sufiicient spring force urging therods 54 to the right as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 3 to hold the hingedpanel in the closed position.

However, when the hinged panel is pulled downwardly passing through theposition shown in FIGURE 4 the springs 46 are compressed by the rotationof the link 60 in a counter clockwise direction around its mountingangle 64 as'viewed in FIGURE 4 until the pivotal connection 56 betweenthe upper or left-hand end of the link 60 and the right-hand end of therods 54 passes a dead center position, at which time the link willextend downwardly and to the left of the mounting 64 and furthermovement of the hinged panel in a counterclockwise direction around itshinge 44 will result in expansion of the springs 46. Thus, when thepanel has been opened beyond this critical position the springs 46 willurge the panel to an open position. Thus, the arrangement disclosedprovides both an insured closure of the panel while, at the same time,provides for the panel remaining in a fully open position while aworkman standing inside the telephone booth is working through the panelopening and on apparatus contained within the ceiling structure such aswill now be described.

The panel 38 is provided with an opening through which extends the upperend of the conduit 24. A lead in bushing 66 is provided for the entry oftelephone wires into the booth. The telephone Wires are passed throughthe bushing and down through the conduit 24 to a telephone mounted onthe panel 22 within the booth. Electrical power for operation for bothlighting and ventilating means is brought into the booth ceiling chamberthrough a conduit 68 and into a connection box 70. From this boxconnections are made to an illuminating lamp and mounting arrangement 72supported by means of a bracket 74 from the rear ceiling chamber wall32. The lamp is controlled by means of a door switch 76 actuated in aconventional manner by the booth door and the lamp may also becontrolled by means of a light sensitive mechanism 78 responsive to theintensity of outdoor light which passes to the control through a passage80 extending through the front lintel of the telephone booth.

Ventilating fans and other apparatus are conventionally provided in thebooth ceiling structure. It will be evident that the hinged panelassembly provides access to all such apparatus within the telephonebooth ceiling structure from the interior of the booth.

In FIGURE 2 there is indicated in construction lines at 82 a cover platefor the booth ceiling structure. When a structure is employed, such asshown in FIGURE 1, and provided for outdoor operation the roof coveringthe booth serves adequately to enclose the upper side of the ceilingchamber and, in effect, forms an upper ceiling osure pa el. When,however, the booth is 'on ther no needt mount a roof structure over thebooth, it is necessary, however, to close the ceiling structure tomaintain cleanliness within the structure. In this type of installationa closure plate such as that indicated at 82 in FIGURE 2 is employed. Itshould be noted that hereinafter the claim language referring to the topclosure for the telephone 'booth ceiling structure is intended to refereither to the roof structure or to a closure panel such as panel 82shown in this figure.

In FIGURES 5-7 there is shown an alternative embodiment of the inventionin which the same general ceiling structure is employed as was employedin the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 2-4 and includes aceiling structure having side panels 32, stationary bottom panels 36 and38 and a frame 40 supporting a glass panel 42 and hingedly connected tothe panel 34 at 44.

In this embodiment of the invention a mounting bracket 84 is afiixed toeach of the side panels 32 adjacent to the ends of the hinge 44. Pins 86are aflixed to the brackets 84 and extend inwardly toward each other.Each of the pins extends through a bore in one end of a bar 88 which ispivotally mounted thereon. The other end of each of the bars 88 isprovided with a slot 90 adapted to receive a bolt 92 extending through abracket '94 afiixed to the angle frame 40 of the hinged panel. A wingnut 94 is threaded onto each of the bolts 92 and when loosely threadedthereon permits sliding motion between the bar 88 and the bracket 94.When the wing nut 96 is tightened sliding motion is prevented betweenthe bar 88 and the bracket 94.

A coil spring 100 is mounted over each of the pins 86 and one end of thespring is secured in a slot 102 in the end of the pin. The other end ofeach of the springs has an extended portion 104 acting against the bar88. The spring is arranged in such a manner, as shown .in the drawings,to urge the bar 88 in clockwise rotation around the pins 86 as viewed inFIGURE 5, thus urging the hinged panel into a closed position as shownin FIGURES 5 and 6. When it is desired to open the hinged panel it ismerely necessary to pull the panel downwardly as shown in FIGURE 7causing the panel to rotate around its hinge 44 and causing each of thebars 88 to rotate around its pin 86. When the panel has been hingeddownwardly to a desired degree, tightening of the wing nuts 96 willserve to lock the panel in an open position by preventing sliding motionbetween the bars 88 and their respective brackets 94.

While not shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 it will be evident that thetelephonebooth ceiling structure shown therein is adapted to mount thesame electrical apparatus as shown in FIGURES 2-4 and the downwardhinging of the ceiling panel provides for access to this apparatus inthe same manner as the hinging of the panel shown in FIGURES 2-4.

In FIGURE 8 there is shown yet another modification of the invention inwhich a bracket 108 is affixed to and extends upwardly from the hingedpanel frame 40 adjacent to the hinge-d edge thereof. A rod 110 ispivotally connected to the upper end of the bracket 108 and extends intoa cylindrical receiver 112. The end of the rod is provided with a pistonforming washer 114. The opposite end of the tube 112 is pivotallymounted as indicated at 116 to a bracket 118 aflixed to the panel 36. Aspring 120 is positioned in the tube 112 between the piston 114 and thepivot forming means 116.

It will be evident upon viewing FIGURE 8 that with. the apparatus in theposition shown the spring 120 will! be partially compressed, will beurging the rod 110 to the right as viewed in the figure thus urging thehinged panel to rotate in a clockwise direction around its hinge 44. Thearrangement thus serves to insure closure of the hinged panel.

When the panel is opened against the urging of spring 120 the plate 108will rotate in a counterclockwise di- J rection around the hinge 44carrying the rod 110 downwardly as viewed in the drawing. When theright-hand end of the rod 110 passes below a line extending between thepivot 116 and the hinge 44 further movement of the hinged panel in acounterclockwise direction around the hinge 44 will permit the rod 110to move outwardly of the tube 112 and thus expansion of the spring 120will now urge the hinged panel toward an open position. Thus, thisarrangement provides the same general functioning as the arrangementshown in FIGURES 2-4 in which, when the hinged panel is in a closedposition, it is maintained in that position by the action of the springand, when the hinged panel is in a substantially -fully open position,it is urged in that position by the spring.

In FIGURES 9 and 10 there is indicated generally at 130 an embodiment ofthe invention in connection with a modified form of ceiling structure.This structure includes a horizontal diagonally extending member 131 anda pair of members 132 and 133 abutting the member 131 and forming asecond diagonally extending member. The members extend betweendiagonally opposite corners of a telephone booth and are supported bythe telephone booth corner posts not shown in FIG- URES 9 and 10. Themembers 131, 132 and 133 have affixed thereunder support brackets 134which support a stationary ceiling panel 136. The members 131 and 132also have attached thereunder a pair of support brackets 138 supportinga stationary ceiling panel 140. The panels 136 and 140 form the lowersurface of the ceiling .structure and, in this embodiment of theinvention, the ceiling structure does not include vertically extendingside walls such as the side walls 32 included in the previouslydescribed embodiments of the invention.

The panels 136 and 140 are spaced apart and positioned therebetween is apanel 142. The panel 142 is rigidly aflixed to a tubular member 144,lying on top of the left-hand side thereof as viewed in the figures, bymeans of a pair of brackets 146. A rod 148 extends through thecylindrical members and is aflixed at each of its ends by means ofbrackets 160 to the panels 136 and 140.

As shown in fragmentary detail in FIGURE 11 the tubular member 144 is inspaced relation with the rod 148 and positioned therebetween and aroundthe rod 148 is a coil spring 162. One end of the spring is affixed tothe outside of the tubular member 144 as indicated at 164 and the otherend of the spring is aflixed to the rod 148 as indicated at 166 by beingturned into a bore extending through the rod.

This arrangement provides a hinge mounting for the panel 142 whereby thepanel may be swung downwardly as viewed in FIGURE 9 against the urgingof the spring 162. The tension of the spring 162, may be adjusted byrotating the tubular member 144 in the brackets 146. It will be evidentthat the direction of spring tension is such as to urge the panel 142into a closed position.

The panel 136 is provided with a cutout region in which there lies aglass panel 168. The panel 140 is provided with a similar cutout coveredwith a glass panel 170. The panel 142 is provided with a cutout coveredby a glass panel 174. Booth illuminating means in the form of a lamp 176is supported in a lamp receptacle 178 which is attached to the supportmember 131 in a position above the displaceable panel. Additional wiringand electrical apparatus may be positioned above the panels 136, 141)and 142 and it will be evident that displacement of the panel 142 willserve to provide for access to such wiring and apparatus which mayinclude apparatus such as that described in connection with FIGURE 3.

It will also be evident that the various hinged panel closing meansdescribed in connection with FIGURES 2-8 may be adapted for employmentwith the structure shown in FIGURES 9 and I and, similarly, the spring 6hinged structures shown in FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 may be employed inconnection with the structures shown in FIGURES 2-8.

It should, however, be particularly noted that in all of thesearrangements the stationary panels and the movable panel present a cleanunbroken surface on the underside of the ceiling structure and all ofthe hinge structures and the spring structures are positioned above theceiling panels with no evidence thereof appearing below the ceilinpanels.

Each of the foregoing modifications of the invention provides meanscontinuously urging the hinged panel to remain in a closed position. Inaddition to this structure it is, however, desirable to provide latchingmeans which will not only secure the movable panel in a closed positionand prevent opening thereof by unauthorized persons but further thelatching means is desirably provided in order to insure againstaccidental dropping of .a ceiling panel in the event of a spring orother mechanical failure. Such latching means is shown in FIG- URES12-14 and will now be described.

In FIGURE 12 there is indicated generally at 42 a panel adapted to bethe hinged panel in any of the foregoing modifications. In FIGURE 13there is indicated generally at 182 a fragmentary portion of the panelindicated at 42 in FIGURE 12 and in FIGURE 14 there is indicated at 184an even smaller fragmentary portion of the hinged panel. The panel isprovided along one edge with a hinge 44. This hinge is identical to thehinge 44 described in connection with FIGURES 2-8. The opposite edge ofthe panel is provided with a flange 186 extending perpendicularly to thepanel and in an upward direction when the panel is closed. A spring wiremember 188 is positioned adjacent to the inside of the flange 186 andthe central portion of the length of the wire 188 is secured to theflange by means of a nut and bolt arrangement 190. The two end portionsof the wire 188 are thus free to be deflected inwardly or away from theflange 186.

The end portions of the spring wire 188 are each formed with anoutwardly extending loop 191 which passes through an opening 192 in theflange 186 best shown in FIGURE 13. The return end of the loop 191passes back through the opening 192 and is turned upwardly as indicatedat 194 terminating in a hook 196. The hook 196 extends forwardly or outtoward the flange 186. Brackets 198 are aflixed to the movable panelflange 200 and provide a retainer under which the return length of theloop is slidably positioned. The panel flange 200 and the portion of thepanel lying therebelow are provided with aligning slots 202, a pair ofaligning slots being provided on each side of the nut and boltarrangement 190 and spaced slightly inwardly of the loops 190. Thesealigning slots are provided for the :admission of a screw-driver orsimilar instrument eX- tended upwardly from below the ceiling panelwhereby the springs 188 may be moved 'back'Wardly Withdrawing the loops191 backwardly in a position in which they will lie over the flange 290.

In FIGURE 13 there is indicated generally at 36 a fragmentary portion ofthe adjacent stationary ceiling panel as described above. This ceilingpanel includes a vertically extending flange 206 provided with anopening 208 in alignment with each of the loops 191 when the hingedpanel is in closed position. It will be evident that when the hingedpanel is in closed position the spring action of the wire 188 will urgeeach of the loops 191 into its aligning opening 208 thus serving tosecurely latch the hinged panel in closed position.

In the event that for some reason the latch 191 is not securely engagedand the spring means described in connection with the various FIGURES2-11 fails to function or such spring means is not provided, the hingedpanel may drop downwardly whereupon its downward motion will be limitedby engagement of the hooks 196 with 7 the upper surface of thestationary panel 36 as shown in FIGURE 14. Thus this structure providesboth a latch means in the form of loops 191 and safety means in the formof hooks 196.

What is claimed is:

1. In :a telephone booth, a ceiling structure forming a chamber adaptedfor housing electrical equipment and wiring for the telephone boothcomprising first and second fixed panels mounted in coplanarrelationship, a third panel disposed in coplanar relation to andinterposed between said fixed panels and forming therewith ahorizontally extending bottom wall for said chamber, means for hingingsaid third panel downwardly to a fixed portion of said horizontal bottomwall for swinging movement downwardly about a horizontal pivotal axisparallel and adjacent to said bottom wall to afford access to theelectrical equipment and wiring housed in said chamber, and meansbiasing said hinged third panel toward closed position and operable forreleasably securing the same in a selected open position, saidlast-named means including pin means disposed proximate and extendingparallel to the pivotal axis of said panel hinging means, at least onerigid elongated member having a variable eifective length, one endportion thereof pivotally secured to said pin means, and the oppositeend portion shiftahly secured to said hinged panel, spring meansoperatively interposed between said pin means and said elongated memberand acting to urge said hinged panel toward closed position, and meansfor releasably securing said elongated member against shifting movementthereby to fix the efiective length thereof and hold said hinged thirdpanel in the selected opened position thereof, and onepiece combinationprimary and secondary latch means consisting of a single rod-like memberanchored to said hinged panel including a primary latch portionprojected into said second fixed panel for releasably securing saidhinged panel in a closed position, and a secondary latch portionoverhanging said second fixed panel and adapted for engaging with saidsecond fixed panel when said hinged panel is partially open, saidrod-like member being inherently resilient, and being displaceableagainst the influence of said inherent resilience for withdrawal of saidprimary latch portion from said second fixed panel and for withdrawal ofsaid secondary latch portion to a position clear of said second fixedpanel.

2. In a telephone booth, a ceiling structure forming a chamber adaptedfor housing electrical equipment and wiring for the telephone boothcomprising first and second fixed panels mounted in coplanarrelationship, a third panel disposed in coplanar relation to andinterposed between said fixed panels and forming therewith ahorizontally extending bottom wall for said chamber, means for hingingsaid third panel to a fixed portion of said horizontal bottom wall forswinging movement downwardly about a horizontal pivotal axis paralleland adjacent to said bottom wall to afford access to the electricalequipment and wiring housed in said chamber, and means biasing saidhinged third panel toward closed ,position and operable for releasablysecuring the same in a selected open position, said last-named meansincluding pin means disposed proximate and extending parallel to thepivotal axis of said panel hinging means, at least one rigid elongatedmember having a variable effective length, one end portion thereofpivotally secured to said pin means, and the opposite end portionshiftably secured to said hinged panel, spring means operativelyinterposed between said pin means and said elongated member and actingto urge said hinged panel toward closed position, and means forreleasably securing said elongated member against shifting movementthereby to fix the effective length thereof and hold said hinged thirdpanel in the selected opened position thereof, and latch means forreleasably securing said hinged panel in closed position and for actingwhen released to releasably limit the swinging movement of said hingedpanel in opening direction in the event of failure of said biasingmeans.

3. In a telephone booth, a ceiling structure forming a chamber adaptedfor housing electrical equipment and wiring for the telephone boothcompnising first and second fixed panels mounted in coplanarrelationship, a third panel disposed in coplanar relation to said fixedpanels and forming therewith a horizontally extending bottom wall forsaid chamber, means for hinging said third panel to a fixed portion ofsaid ceiling structure for swinging movement downwardly about ahorizontal pivotal axis parallel and adjacent to said bottom wallthereby to afford access to the electrical equipment and wiring housedin said chamber, means including spring means urging said hinged thirdpanel toward a closed position, said spring means including a coiledspring, means securing one end of said spring in a fixed position, meanssecuring the other end of said spring to said hinged panel for movementtherewith whereby said spring is uncoiled as said panel is opened, andone-piece combination primary and secondary latch means consisting of asingle rod-like member anchored to said hinged panel including a primarylatch portion disposed a substantial distance from said anchorage andextending laterally from the main body of said rod-like member forprojection into said second fixed panel for releasably securing saidhinged panel in a closed position, and a secondary latch portion havinga terminal portion of said rod-like member hooked over said second fixedpanel and disposed in superposed spaced relation thereto for engagingwith said second fixed panel when said hinged panel is partially open,said rod-like member being inherently resilient, and being displaceableagainst the influence of said inherent resilience for withdrawal of saidprimary latch portion from said second fixed panel and for withdrawal ofsaid secondary latch portion to a position clear of said second fixedpanel.

4. A telephone booth ceiling structure according to claim 3 wherein saidhinge means comprises a shaft mounted on said fixed panels and extendingalong one end portion of said hinged panel and a tubular sleeve fittedloosely over said shaft and secured to said hinged panel, and whereinsaid one end of said spring means is secured to said shaft and saidother end of said spring means is secured to said tubular member.

5. A telephone booth ceiling structure according to claim 4 wherein saidcoil spring is wrapped around said shaft and said tubular sleeveembraces said coil spring, and including means for mounting said tubularmember for rotation about its axis to adjust the tension of the coilspring.

6. In a telephone booth, a ceiling structure forming a chamber adaptedfor housing electrical equipment and wiring for the telephone boothcomprising first and second fixed panels mounted in coplanarrelationship, a third panel disposed in coplanar relation to andinterposed between said fixed panels and forming therewith ahorizontally extending bottom wall for said chamber, means for hingingsaid third panel to a fixed portion of said ceiling structure forswinging movement downwardly about a horizontal pivotal axis paralleland adjacent to said bottom wall thereby to afford access to theelectrical equipment and wiring housed in said chamber, means includingspring means urging said hinged panel toward closed position, saidspring means including a pair of coiled springs, means securing one endof said springs in a fixed position, means securing the other ends ofsaid springs to said hinged panel at spaced locations so that saidsprings uncoil as said panel is opened, and one-piece combinationprimary and secondary latch means consisting of a single rod-like memberanchored to said hinged panel including a primary latch portion disposeda substantial distance from said anchorage and extending laterally fromthe main body of said rod-like member for projection into said secondfixed panel for releasably 9 10 securing said hinged panel in a closedposition, and a References Cited by the Examiner secondary latch portionhaving a terminal portion of said m rod-like member hooked over saidsecond fixed panel and UNITED F PALENTS disposed in superposed spacedrelation thereto for en- 474268 5/1892 Sldenstncker 268-69 gaging withsaid second fixed panel When said hinged panel 5 998324 7/ 1911 Clay 26868 i artially open, said rod-like member being inherently 10/1934 Kunfz52'28 ilient, nd being di placeable against the influence of 27138207/1955 Horn 16 189 said inherent resilience for withdrawal of saidprimary latch portion from said second fixed panel and for With- FRANKABBOTT Primary Examiner drawal of said secondary latch portion to aposition clear 10 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, EARL J, WITMER,

of said second fixed panel. Examiners.

1. IN A TELEPHONE BOOTH, A CEILING STRUCTURE FORMING A CHAMBER ADAPTEDFOR HOUSING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND WIRING FOR THE TELEPHONE BOOTHCOMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND FIXED PANELS MOUNTED IN COPLANARRELATIONSHIP, A THIRD PANEL DISPOSED IN COPLANAR RELATION TO ANDINTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID FIXED PANELS AND FORMING THEREWITH AHORIZONTALLY EXTENDING BOTTOM WALL FOR SAID CHAMBER MEANS FOR HINGINGSAID THIRD PANEL DOWNWARDLY TO A FIXED PORTION OF SAID HORIZONTAL BOTTOMWALL FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT DOWNWARDLY ABOUT A HORIZONTAL PIVOTAL AXISPARALLEL AND ADJACENT TO SAID BOTTOM WALL TO AFFORD ACCESS TO THEELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND WIRING HOUSED IN SAID CHAMBER, AND MEANSBIASING SAID HINGED THIRD PANEL TOWARD CLOSED POSITION AND OPERABLE FORRELEASABLY SECURING THE SAME IN A SELECTED OPEN POSITION, SAIDLAST-NAMED MEANS INCLUDING PIN MEANS DISPOSED PROXIMATE AND EXTENDINGPARALLEL TO THE PIVOTAL AXIS OF SAID PANEL HINGING MEANS, AT LEAST ONERIGID ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING A VARIABLE EFFECTIVE LENGTH, ONE ENDPORTION THEREOF PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID PIN MEANS, AND THE OPPOSITEEND PORTION SHIFTABLY SECURED TO SAID HINGED PANEL, SPRING MEANSOPERATIVELY INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID PIN MEANS AND SAID ELONGATED MEMBERAND ACTING TO URGE SAID HINGED PANEL TOWARD CLOSED POSITION, AND MEANSFOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID ELONGATED MEMBER AGAINST SHIFTING MOVEMENTTHEREBY TO FIX THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH THEREOF AND HOLD SAID HINGED THIRDPANEL IN THE SELECTED OPENED POSITION THEREOF, AND ONEPIECE COMBINATIONPRIMARY AND SECONDARY LATCH MEANS CONSISTING OF A SINGLE ROD-LIKE MEMBERANCHORED TO SAID HINGED PANEL INCLUDING A PRIMARY LATCH PORTIONPROJECTED INTO SAID SECOND FIXED PANEL FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAIDHINGED PANEL IN A CLOSED POSITION, AND A SECONDARY LATCH PORTIONOVERHANGING SAID SECOND FIXED PANEL AND ADAPTED FOR ENGAGING WITH SAIDSECOND FIXED PANEL WHEN SAID HINGED PANEL IS PARTIALLY OPEN, SAIDROD-LIKE MEMBER BEING INHERENTLY RESILIENT, AND BEING DISPLACEABLEAGAINST THE INFLUENCE OF SAID INHERENT RESILIENCE FOR WITHDRAWAL OF SAIDPRIMARY LATCH PORTION FROM SAID SECOND FIXED PANEL AND FOR WITHDRAWAL OFSAID SECONDARY LATCH PORTION TO A POSITION CLEAR OF SAID SECOND FIXEDPANEL.